thanks for the responses...

my condolances to Psichotic... ouch... $978 hurts me... I actually can feel your pain...

Does anyone have any ideas about the ruff engine noise I think I heard when it started up after sitting for an hour or so?

I'm assuming it was the sort of noise an engine with a crapped out crankshaft sensor would make.

Cheers,

Thomas

 

Long story short... new to area, didnt know any qualified mechanics, picked one off a recommendation. Everybody on this site said it was CPS after my description...tell him that says he replaced it.. nearly 2 weeks of "troubleshooting" and I give him a detailed how to install a CPS with wiring diagram from Savannah Buzz and its fixed the next morning. 780.00 in labor.

 

And I thought I got hosed with a $500 dollar bill from the dealership when mine went. Ouch. Burn.....

 

Mine went out last year with no warning. The CPS set me back about 70, and 6 hours on the install. It have me fits trying to plug out back in. there was only about 2-3 inches of pigtail, and of coarse there es no way to get my hand up. So a couple of long pliers.got it done.

 

It is easier to get it plugged in, and let it hang down while you attach the sensor. Noise is not good. See pix.

Sensor is basically a coil of wire around a rod that forms a tip. The tip is in close alignment with a reluctor disk with teeth or slots (newer engines, usually in D2 - but people swap engines, so both are shown). As teeth or slots fly by the tip, a voltage is created. There is a space of two missing teeth built in to tell ECU when disc has made a full circle. The pulse count makes the rpm reading the ECU uses for a variety of things and sends to other modules. In a D2 it makes the tach, in a GEMS D1 tach drive is from alternator, but ECU still uses CKP signals, and they show up on the OBDII port.

Unit must go back on in precise alignment with spacers and bolts all put back in same order. There is a difference in spacer size for auto trans vs manual trans trucks. Again, just another junkyard surprise for those harvesting perfectly good OEM parts on the cheap.

Noise can be tip bent and trying to bend or break off teeth of the disk. Once recent post of a successful weld tooth back on in the truck without pulling tranny (damn good welder).

 

installed the new crankshaft pos sensor.

thanks to the how-to sticky (which told me I needed 7mm and 8mm sockets)
and Savanah Buzz's comment (about connecting the sensor from above before installing it).. it only took me an hour and a half... I was surprised how easy it was for me, but I can totally see how it would be a major PITA for anyone with hands larger than mine.

I haven't heard any noises didn't at start up or while running...
bosch crankshaft position sensor at O'Rielly Autoparts cost me $75 plus tax.